Fast report P-4

crowd at Jantar Mantar Pic 1 

crowd at Jantar Mantar Pic 3

• On the 5th day of fast of Team Anna (Sunday) Anna Hazare also began his fast
• A large number of people gathered at the fast venue on Saturday and even larger number of people around  six to eight thousand gathered at Jantar Mantar on the weekends on Sunday, as Anna began his fast. On Sunday a very big amount of people also gathered at India gate and performed candle march.| It was already predicted by Janlokpal bill Center that the real excitement and involvement of the public will be seen on weekend(Sat and Sun) because even the people who go to their jobs or school or collages are able to participate during holidays.|
• Anna has declared that he would fast till lokpal arrives. "Till the Lokpal Bill is not passed, the people of this country will not let me die," Anna said 
• He justified anger of people who protested  at PM's house on Saturday, however also said that it was an angry action and people should thing before taking such action as it involves PM of the nation saying "People are fed up and angry as they have been suffering for so long. We should think before taking any such step as it involves the country's Prime Minister,"
• Hazare said that he himself won't join politics, however may provide an alternative political party,other then BJP or congress for voters for the 2014 election.  Hazare said, he will tour the country urging people  to fight elections or select people to fight elections. (see more)



crowd at Jantar Mantar Pic 2

• Team Anna's member  Sanjay Singh described Modi as a "murderer of humanity" and said Ramdev has to explain why he shared the dais with the BJP leader.  
• Anna said he was willing to put the allegations against ministers aside for now if the government delivered on the Lokpal, the cabinet ministers remained a focus for the team on the Jantar Mantar stage. 

Source: http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/anna-hazare-s-fast-for-lokpal-bill-draws-big-crowd-248738?pfrom=home-lateststories
http://ibnlive.in.com/news/fast-to-continue-ready-to-sacrifice-life-says-anna/276056-37-64.html

Govt approves amendments to Lokpal Bill passed by Lok Sabha

 Amendments to the Lokpal bill were recommended when it was passed in the Lok Sabha in December last year. These amendments received approval by government.

Earlier Amendments 
While being passed in the Lok Sabha, government had already agreed to some amendments.Like
when bill was earlier introduced in Lok Sabha then the bill provided that  an inquiry against the PM has to be approved by a three-fourths majority of the full bench of the Lokpal. However this ratio was amended to  two-thirds majority of the full bench of the Lokpal while being passed in the Lok Sabha


Recently Ammended

• One amendment was that once passed, the Bill will be applicable to states if they give consent to its application. 
• Changes also include keeping personnel of the armed forces out of the purview of the anti-corruption watchdog and increasing the exemption time of former MPs from five to seven years.The bill in its amended form is likely to be taken up by the Rajya Sabha when Parliament session resumes in the second half of the budget session from April 24.

Source: http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/NewDelhi/Govt-approves-amendments-to-Lokpal-Bill-passed-by-Lok-Sabha/Article1-839635.aspx

Team Anna to fast for passage of Lokpal (in rajaya sabha)

CONTENTS of Fast:  :-For passage of Lokpal (in rajaya sabha)                     
:-For improvement of Whistle Blower's(police.etc) protection.

Anna Hazare and his team will observe a one-day fast in Delhi at Jantar Mantar March 25  to demand parliament pass the Lokpal bill which has been earlier chocked in Rajaya Sabha. Earlier Fast was planned to occur on  Sunday (March 17).
Team Anna has invited the families of several whistleblowers like that of Nrandra Kumar (IPS officer allegedly killed by a politician)   to join them for the fast.
 Hazare has demanded a stronger whistle blower(police etc.)  protection programme under the Jan Lokpal Bill. |Recently, killing IPS officer Narandra Kumar who was honest, is evident that whistle blower protection is not healthy in country.|

Hazare's move is in response to the killings of whistleblowers who have tried to reveal corruption and scams. According to Hazare, an effective Lokpal would ensure that justice was carried out. 

ALSO SEE: Narandra Kumar's mattar

Source:http://www.ianslive.in/index.php?param=news/384564/NATION/1
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article2991486.ece 

Team Anna to protest killing of IPS officer Narendra Kumar

 Team Anna will launch a three-day fast in Bhopal from Tuesday to protest against the death of IPS officer Narendra Kumarand demanding a strong law to protect whistleblowers(police.etc.) 
The activists also asked Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan to immediately pass the Lokayukta bill in the state (see more about Powerless condition of lokpal made by states)  on the lines of the one enacted in Uttarakhand.
In a tweet,  targeting lawmakers MPs Kejriwal said, "When Sharad Pawar was slapped, Parliament mourned for two hours. Let's see for how many hours does it discuss Narendra Kumar's death."

"Team Anna believes that the political parties are deliberately raking up the war of words for two reasons -- to scuttle justice to the family of the braveheart who single-handedly took on the mafia patronized by politicians and keep the much needed stringent whistleblowers protection law as propounded in the Jan Lokpal bill in cold storage," the statement said.

Editor's View: IPS officer Narendra Kumar, nicknamed as DABANG for his brave fight with mining mafia was surely shot by politicized bullet, and hence  Narendra Kumar is one for whom we must raise our voice, because he raised his voice bravely and honestly against corrupt mining.We all must demand justice for his soul, because Police offices like Narandra kumar are rarely found in our county 

Source:http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Team-Anna-to-protest-killing-of-IPS-officer-Narendra-Kumar/articleshow/12239642.cms

Team Anna wants Congress to reveal poll campaign expenses

Arvind Kejriwal asked the former to reveal details of Rahul Gandhi's poll campaign expenses.

           _Kejriwal tweeted: "Election is over, and Diggi Raja should now give details of the expenses by Rahul Gandhi on         helicopters and campaigning in the UP elections."

(In reply)-_Digvijay Singh said: "If they (Team Anna) can spend 36 lakhs in their days long campaign then he can well imagine how much we must have spent in our month-long rallies." 
Singh further said expense reports would be submitted to the Election Commission and not to Kejriwal as he was against the Congress Party.  Anna Hazare said: "So, what wrong has Arvind Kejriwal said? Transparency should be there." 

Editor's view: Well of course there should be declaration of expanses by any political party (weather congress or bjp) before public as over expanses by political parties are not permitted by our election's 'code of conduct'  Moreover Team Anna is not a political party and hence its free to spend 36 lakhs, and big thing is , at least T.Anna declared what they expanded. T. Anna has, whenever asked declared his account status, what about politicians!
Source:http://www.newstrackindia.com/newsdetails/2012/03/05/272871-Kejriwal-tells-mentor-Digvijay-to-reveal-Rahul-Gandhi-s-poll-campaign-expenses.html

Team Anna meeting in new Delhi today(Mar, 5 ,12) Short news

Two months after ill health (see more about Anna's health) Anna would attend a core committee meeting of Team Anna on Monday. The meeting comes days ahead of the budget session of Parliament.It is going to be the first meeting Hazare would attend since his illness in December last year forced him to take time off to recover.

Ahead of the meeting, Hazare insisted that the fight for a strong Lokpal would continue until it happens. Before departing for Delhi, Hazare said in Pune that the core committee would decide the date of his campaigning for Lokpal Bill.

Source:http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/lokpal-bill-team-anna-meet-delhi/1/176545.html

Manish Sisodia also failed to cast his vote

After Arvind Kejriwal(see) , Manish Sisodia emerged as the second Team Anna member who did not exercise his franchise in the UP Assembly elections from Shahibabad, where he is a registered voter.

Sisodia said he could not vote yesterday(Feb,28) as he was in Goa for a programme which he said was fixed a month before.

“It is better that I was not in Sahibabad on the polling day otherwise I would have filled up the 49-0 form in the polling booth for disliking the candidates and political parties,” Sisodia said.
I did not like any nominee in the Sahibabad constituency as none of them was with a clean image, he said.
“There is no provision of right to reject, which is a must for an honest voter,” he said.

He also defended Kejriwal for his statement on the Parliament,saying when MPs take money for asking questions in the House or currency notes are shown to prove corruption of the government or porn films are seen in the Assembly, does sanctity of the Parliament remains intact then?

Editor's View: Its true that there is absence of genuine candidates to vote for, moreover Team Anna is also busy and this fact can't be ignored. Yet not voting of Team Anna's members is loosening the support for them. So only for symbolic activity , they should somehow cast their votes.
Source:http://www.indianexpress.com/news/team-anna-member-manish-sisodia-fails-to-cast-vote/918201/

Federal Structure issue shadowed toothless condition of Lokayuktas

ANALYSIS While many of the  parties like  BJP,  CPM  and Trinamool  are opposing  Chapter 3 from lokpal which is imposing Center's Lokayukta bill on states saying that Lokayukta bill prepared by states will go in vein if  center's  Lokayukta bill is imposed on them. .{ Lokayukta in simple words is state-level Lokpal/corruption watchdog}

But this opposition has almost shadowed following poor facts about State Lokayuktas Bills

1. Out of 28 states only 19 have Lokayukta instituted.
2. Of 19 merely 3 lokayukta are OK(not even good)
3.  Most of the state lokayukta bills can't investigate Governer, Chef Minister and legislatures.
4. Some lokayuktas like of Andhara Pradesh have been restricted to look into Government's procedural lapses and  delays
5. Recommendations made by institution are not accepted actively.
6. In some states even Lokayuktas (investigators) are not appointed

Some pitiful Examples of state lokayuktas

• In W.Bengal the lokayukta only have two group D people as staff!
• In Karnataka, no one is holding the post
•  Gujrat was not appointed with Lokayukta for eight years from 2003 until in 2011 Kamla Beniwal appointed issed an ouder
• In Rajasthan, lokayukta don't have investigation agency of its own

Only Uttrakhand have reasonable Lokyukta.

After all this opposition (who form government in states) are trying to defend such flawed and weak sate made lokayukta bills.
Its true that Feudal system should be respected but using it to defend flaws and corruption is quite different.This shows state government doesn't want to take pains to renew their flawed lokayukta bills or to set up new lokayuktas
This decision of making lokayukta a state defined creation is wrong as it will make Lokayukta different in every state as well as will make it vulnerable to become a state based weak bill leading to difficult usage of bill in multi-state corruption cases|

Points from: India Today (Feb, 20)

UP Election Campaign:Rae Bareli

SEE FULL SCHEDULE OF UP Election Campaign here

 Team Anna mobilized public opinion in the family stronghold of Rae Bareli on Feb 13 . Four months ago, Anna Hazare's team had claimed sweeping support in Rae Bareli and Amethi for the Jan Lokpal bill after taking a referendum on people's opinion on whether they would vote for those who oppose the legislation.

Team Anna, which began its campaign in Uttar Pradesh on February 5, have been asking people to take a vow that they will not back candidates making false promises but support those who are answerable to them in future.

Though Anna Hazare himself has not been campaigning, his team members Manish Sisodia and Rakesh Rafiq will be among the speakers addressing a rally on Monday afternoon in Rae Bareli, which is UPAchairperson Sonia Gandhi's constituency.

The anti-graft team, which has already held ten rallies under the banner of India Against Corruption, across the state, is expected to address around a dozen more rallies in the state. The team is expected to visit Kanauj on February 14 and proceed to Farukkhabad the same day.

SEE FULL SCHEDULE OF UP Election Campaign here

Source: http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2012-02-13/news/31055259_1_rae-bareli-team-anna-anna-hazare

Anna Hazare wants 3 BJP ministers(who caught watching porn) to be removed

Anna Hazere demanded the three BJP ministers who were caught watching porn inside Karnataka assembly be dismissed from the House. In a statement, Hazare said political parties were full of such people and these leaders are "dirtying the sacred temples -- Parliament and state assemblies -- of our democracy".

"Today, parties are competing with each other in giving tickets to such people. Parties are full of such people. They are dirtying Parliament and state Assemblies. The future of the country is not safe in their hands.

"They (ministers) have to be removed from assembly as they have insulted the assembly. They have insulted the Constitution. They should be send to jail," Hazare said.

Source:http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-02-08/india/31037290_1_karnataka-ministers-karnataka-assembly-anna-hazare

RSS blamed Anna for not recognizing BJP's role in campaign

The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh on Sunday slammed social activist Anna Hazare for failing to acknowledge that its workers had played an “active role” in his nationwide crusade against corruption last year, though the Sangh itself was not part of the civil society agitation.

“It is a fact that the Sangh workers in individual capacity did play an active role in the anti-corruption crusade by the civil society headed by Hazare... It baffles me as to why the former did not acknowledge the fact,” RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat told reporters.
Though the RSS had not directed its workers to join the civil society’s crusade on corruption, a large number of them did take an active part in the agitation throughout the country on their own volition, he said.

Editor's View: Actually Anna had many times blamed rss in several manners like Anna said bjp' rathyatra a "Nautanki" , he also said that  if congress is graduate in terms of corruption then BJP is post -graduate in being corrupt. And maybe that's why rss is angry with Anna.
I want to ask rss why Anna should acknowledge rss role when there is no role played by RSS!
RSS appeared just a opportunist in the Anna's campaign and nothing else! 
Moreover even BJP didn't brought Lokpal during its tenure. It even changed colors in parliament last year. 
Then why rss is blaming Anna for not acknowledging BJP!!
 
Source:http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article2863182.ece

Lokpal Bill to come in Rajaya Sabha in Budged Season

Lokpal Bill is expected to be brought again for consideration in the Rajya Sabha during the second phase of the Budget session of Parliament. "The bill is on the live register of the Rajya Sabha and it will now be taken up only in the second phase of the Budget session," an official said.

Budged season will begin on March 12 and its second part will  be held from April 24 to May 22.
Season will begin with joint sitting of President Parthiba Patil and members of both the Houses of Parliament.

Lokpal Bill was passed in Lokshabha on December 27, 2012 where government had a majority. Moreover many parties walked out of parliament during voice vote which made passage easier.

However Lokpal was chocked in Rajaya Shaba on december 30 where opposition parties had majority.

SOME BACKGROUND

1. The opposition had charged the government with running away from a vote because of lack of majority in the House.
   
2. The government had then stated that the bill was "alive" and would be taken up in the Budget session for passage.   
3. By May this year, the strength of the Congress and its allies is expected to rise slightly in the Upper House after biennial elections in several seats. The UPA does not have a majority in the House earlier when lokpal was discussed.
4. SEE MORE about incident ON   http://janlokpalbillcenter.blogspot.in/2011/12/lokpal-chocked-in-rajaya-sabha.html
   

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Lokpal-Bill-to-come-up-in-Rajya-Sabha-during-Budget-session/articleshow/11797195.cms

Anna is still more popular than any other political figure: Survey shows

Those who thinks that Anna has lost the political and popularity grip will bite the dust, because latest survey ‘The Mood of Nation’ conducted by India Today reveals that Anna is n Top in people’s mind.

This survey is conducted across 19 states and 98 randomly selected parliamentary constituencies  with 12,648 voters/responders.

1. During survey 63% agreed that Lokpal presented by Government is weak and supported Anna’s Janlokpal version. 
2. When asked who will they vote for if both Anna and Rahul Gandhi were to contest election then 60% favoured Anna and only 24% took Rahul 
3. When asked who is their role mode then Anna  got the highest percentage(14%) beating Sachin Tendulkar(6%), Rajiv Gandhi(4%) , Amithab Bacchan(3%) Virender Shevag (3%), Narendra Modi(2%), MS Dhoni(2%)

Apart form this this survey also showed that next parliament election could see a PM from neither Congress nor BJP, parties other than these have better chance to form majority in parliament.
It showed that public's support for Congress has declined and now Bjp and Congress have support that is almost equal to each other but smaller than other parties.
SOURCE: INDIA TODAY ( February 6,2012 edition of magazine )
http://indiatoday.intoday.in/gallery/india-today-poll-mood-of-the-nation-2012/1/6443.html#photo10

Anna with Deshmuk ?

Hindi daily reported that Anna had worked under Deshmukh's leadership in 1983 showing a photo of Anna with Nanaji Deshmukh.
 
Nanaji Deshmuk was first a social activist (honored with  Padma Vibh

Anna with Nanaji Deshmuk

ushan) then an rss member, the very proof of this statement is his powerful social work regarding anti-poverty and minimum needs programme, agriculture and cottage industry, rural health and rural education etc.
Nanaji was an experienced man in terms of rural development.

Digvijay sharing dias
with Nanahi Deshmuk

If we believe report of a local newspaper
If we believe the report then we will realize  Anna was with Deshmuk in order to gain experience about rural development from Deshmukh(who had infinite experience in this field )
Report says that Anna have participated in rural development projects of rss started by Deshmukh. So it reveals that Anna contributed to Deshmuk's projects to gain experience from him . It is evident from the report  that Anna has worked only and only in Deshmuk's rural projects and not in any other projects and campaingns by rss. It clearly defines that Anna worked mutually with Deshmuk in his rural developmental projects to learn from Deshmuk about rural development.

Deshmuk was one of those politicians with whom any activist can meet for exchange of views and lessons. Even Digvijay who is blaming Anna had shared stage with Deshmuk!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nanaji_Deshmukh#Social_work
http://twocircles.net/2011dec25/anna_hazare_was_active_rss_%E2%80%98pracharak%E2%80%99_reveals_media_report.html 

Anna vs Digvijay :(Nanaji Deshmukh controversy)

Anna with Nanaji Deshmuk

Digvijay sharing dias
with Nanahi Deshmuk

Hindi daily reported that Anna had worked under Deshmukh's leadership in 1983 showing a photo of Anna with Nanaji Deshmukh.Rashid Alvi and Digvijaya Singh wasted no time in terming Anna as an agent of RSS.  
"Anna Hazare worked as Secretary with RSS leader Nanaji Deshmukh and trained in 1983 in Gonda. See Nai Duniya front page today," Singh today wrote on his twitter page.  
However, Team Anna did not hesitate in giving a tit-for tat-response.
 Kiran Bedi also posted a picture of Digvijaya Singh sharing a dais with Nanaji Deshmukh, questioning his RSS links."Does sharing of the dais make one each other's agent. Next time shud one sit alone? When two persons share a dais do they become each others agents,?" Kiran asked. 


Meanwhile, Union Minister Beni Prasad Verma also joined the tirade calling Anna an Army deserter, but his claims seemed to bite dust with the report from Army in which army cleared that Anna's record in army is clear and full of might.
Army records made it clear that  Hazera was honourably discharged in 1975 after completing his 12 years of service.Hazera has also won medals for his service.

Editor's View:  Nanaji Deshmuk was first a social activist (honored with  Padma Vibhushan) then an rss member, the very proof of this statement is his powerful social work regarding anti-poverty and minimum needs programme, agriculture and cottage industry, rural health and rural education etc. Nanaji was an experienced man in terms of rural development.
If we believe the report then we will realize  Anna was with Deshmuk in order to gain experience about rural development from Deshmukh(who had infinite experience in this field )Report says that Anna have participated in  rural development projects started by Deshmukh.So it reveals that Anna contributed to Deshmuk's projects to gain experience from him. It is evident from the report that Anna has worked only and only in Deshmuk's rural projects and not in any other  projects and campaingns by rss.It clearly defines that Anna worked with Deshmuk in his rural developmental projects to learn from Deshmuk about rural development. Deshmuk was one of those politicians with whom any activist can meet for exchange of views and lessons. Even Digvijay who is blaming Anna had shared stage with Deshmuk!

Sources:http://twocircles.net/2011dec25/anna_hazare_was_active_rss_%E2%80%98pracharak%E2%80%99_reveals_media_report.html (REPORT)
http://ibnlive.in.com/news/anna-writes-to-pm-conghazare-war-gets-personal/214991-37-64.html
http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-08-21/lucknow/29911705_1_indian-army-anna-hazare-kisan-baburao-hazare
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Cong-attacks-Anna-Hazare-again-Anna-is-Indias-agent-says-Arvind-Kejriwal/articleshow/11244769.cms

UPDATE {21/12(1p)}

The winter session of Parliament, which was scheduled to end on December 22, has been extended by three days from December 27 to discuss Lokpal Bill and other legislations. 

Anna has threatened to go on hunger strike from December 27 if Parliament fails to pass a strong Lokpal Bill, but there is no unanimity among the different parties on the proposed Bill.the UPA has decided to withdraw the old draft and introduce a new one in Parliament even though several smaller parties have accused the Government of trying to rush though the proposed anti-corruption legislation. 

Even as UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi addressed Congress MPs and assured them that the government bend further to please Team Anna and the Opposition, the UPA withdrew the old bill and decided to introduce a new draft. The BJP has given its nod to this proposal.

She told her party colleagues that the Government won't go down without a fight on the Lokpal Bill and will ensure that it doesn't meet the same fate as the Women's Reservation Bill.

She also reiterated that the Government and the party were united on the issue and hit out at the Opposition in general and the BJP in particular for trying to derail the Lokpal Bill.

"The Lokpal Bill has been cleared by the Cabinet. The Opposition will have lots of things to say. They should accept suggestions of Government. Team Anna should also accept it. The Opposition cannot reconcile to the fact that they lost (the 2009 Lok Sabha elections). The party and Government support each other, there is no rift between the party and Government," said Sonia.

Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad, Samajwadi Party Chief Mulayam Singh Yadav and Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader Sitaram Yechury have questioned the UPA Government's intention while making it clear that Parliament will not rush through the anti-corruption legislation in a hurry to please Hazare and his associates.
Mayawati-led Bhaujan Samaj Party is also against rushing through the Bill while the Shiv Sena has opposed the concept of a Lokpal completely. The BJP and Biju Janata Dal have also opposed the Government version, but want an early passage of the Bill.

The BJP is yet to reveal its strategy but it has said that the party is ready for a discussion on the Bill any day. It is likely to raise objections on the procedure of the appointment of the Lokpal panel.
However, Keeping up the heat, Team Anna on Wednesday attacked the government for keeping CBI out of Lokpal's ambit, saying it 'totally destroys' the anti-corruption mechanism in the country by not giving an investigating arm to the ombudsman.
Team Anna member Arvind Kejriwal said the new bill will do "more harm than doing good" to the existing anti-graft machinery. Bedi said onTwitter, "The bill is not path breaking but breaking the path. Thank you Sonia G."

Source:http://ibnlive.in.com/news/lokpal-endgame-near-despite-anna-protest/213961-37-64.html

Cabinet approves Lokpal Bill (but disapproved many of Anna's demand)

The Lokpal Bill draft has been cleared by the Union Cabinet on Tuesday. The government has decided that the CBI will not be under the Lokpal .The cabinet met in the parliament house complex under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. 

• The government has decided that the CBI will not be under the Lokpal's control  and also decided not to hive off the Directorate of Prosecution from the investigative agency.

1. The Lokpal, with Constitutional status, will, however, have superintendence over the cases referred to CBI
2. Lokpal will also have the powers to carry out preliminary inquiry to be headed by a Director of Inquiry and will have a prosecution wing under a Director.  The Inquiry Wing will be headed by a Director for preliminary inquiry. The Lokpal can also ask the CBI to conduct the preliminary inquiry, which should be completed within 180 days.  Ideally, the preliminary inquiry should be completed within 90 days and extension if necessary should be sought in writing. 
3. Sources also say that the Prime Minister, Leader of Opposition, CJI will choose the CBI chief. The Lokpal will have no say in the matter.
4. Appointment of SPs and above in CBI will be done by a committee consiting of CVC, Vigilance Commissioners, Home Secretary and Secretary, DoPT. 
5. Lokpal cannot initiate any inquiry suo motu and a complaint will be required. 

• Prime Minister will be under the purview of the Lokpal with certain safeguards that will keep out aspects like international relations, public order, atomic energy, space, internal and external security from the inquiry.  Probe on any complaint against the Prime Minister will be decided by the full bench, of which at least three-fourth should agree. 

• According to sources, the government has proposed in the draft that the the Lokpal selection committee will comprise of the Prime Minister, Lok Sabha Speaker, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Chief Justice of India and a government-nominated jurist.But Anna is against more political volume in the selection committee

• According to the proposal, Lokpal will be an eight-member body and former CJI or SC judge or an eminent person will be Lokpal Chairman.  
• The government has now proposed 50% reservation for SC/ST, OBCs, Minorities and Women in the Lokpal bench and in the search committee. 
• 
  

Sources said that the bill will be tabled in the Parliament as early as on December 22.

Anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare was quick to hit back. He rejected the Citizens' Charter bill and his team had demanded this should be part of the Lokpal Bill.

Anna on Tuesday rejected government's Lokpal draft and Citizen's Charters' Bill, saying he will go on fast, hold a 'Jail Bharo Andolan' and campaign against the government in the five election-bound states.

Expressing disappointment with the new draft Lokpal Bill to be tabled in Parliament, Anna said he would fast for three days from December 27, followed by a three-day 'jail bharo' agitation.

"I will fast on December 27, 28 and 29. This will be followed by a three-day jail bharo from December 30. After this, I will go to five states (where Assembly polls are due) and campaign against the (Congress-led) government," Anna said.

Editor's View: Well government is not arming lokpal with much powers, and without these powers lokpal will be merely a report filing institute. 
My question is why government is showing so resistance in giving lokpal powers and is making selection committee of lokpal full of political dominance?

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Cabinet-approves-Lokpal-draft-CBI-out-of-its-control/articleshow/11182920.cms
http://ibnlive.in.com/news/cabinet-approves-lokpal-bill-cbi-not-under-it/213649-37-64.html 

Two more BJP states mull Lokpal akin to Anna version

After Uttarakhand, two BJP-led states, Chhattisgarh and Himachal Pradesh, are closely examining the Jan Lokpal bill. Both states have a Lokayukta in place, but have shown interest in amending the existing legislation to bring it closer to the bill drafted by Team Anna. 

Chhattisgarh has put in place a committee under the chief secretary to examine the Jan Lokpal billand the Uttarakhand Lokayukta Act. Sources said Chhattisgarh was looking at restructuring its existing Lokayukta Act to bring in an independent investigation wing under the ambit of the law, besides other changes. 

However, the Chhattisgarh government is likely to wait till the Centre passes the Lokpal bill and examine its provisions. The state assembly session is scheduled to start in December and unlike Uttarakhand there are no elections coming up in the state, and hence there is no immediate political compulsion to expedite the process. Sources said the state may wait a while before restructuring its legislation to fit the Jan Lokpal's provisions. ``We want it to be in tandem with the Centre's act,'' a source said. 

The activists have been in talks with several states after the early success with Uttarakhand that has adopted the Jan Lokpal bill in toto. The team, however, ran in to rough weather with Bihar CM Nitish Kumar as Team Anna members criticized the state Lokayukta draft as ``weak''. Kumar hit back, saying he did not need a certificate of approval from anyone except the public. 


Source:http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Two-more-BJP-states-mull-Lokpal-akin-to-Anna-version/articleshow/10886725.cms

'Lokpal Panel to Decide Next Week on Inclusion of PM'

The Parliamentary Panel going into the Lokpal Bill will take a call on the issue of inclusion of Prime Minister in the anti-corruption watchdog at its meeting this week, its chairman Abhishek Sighvi said today(november 27).

"We have to discuss the issue in the next meeting," Singhvi told PTI adding,"we are now at the stage of report adoption and we hope to complete the work within this week".

Singhvi said 25 issues including those concerning media, corporates, NGOs, lower bureaucracy and citizens grievances have been "comprehensively dealt with" in the substantive report.

The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Personnel and Law and Justice scrutinising the Lokpal Bill had on November 24 ended its internal deliberations with "broad consensus" on most of the issues including giving constitutional status to Lokpal.

Asked whether the report will satisfy everyone, Singhvi said "we are not here to satisfy everyone or anyone. We are here to satisfy our conscience and the nation".

The panel has been asked to give its report by December 7.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pawan Kuman Bansal has already indicated that the government plans to bring the bill in the last week of the current session of Parliament which concludes on December 21.

The panel is preparing to circulate the draft report of its recommendations to the members in the next few days.

Team Anna had earlier expressed surprise at the move to exclude Citizen's Charter and lower bureaucracy from the ambit of the ombudsman, saying it was contrary to a Parliament resolution.


Source:http://news.outlookindia.com/items.aspx?artid=742747

Standing committee's decisions on PM's and CBI inclusion

The standing committee in a meeting on 16 november recommend that the CBI's anti-corruption wing be given more autonomy and be placed under the Lokpal's supervision.(However there is a provision of collective participation of lokpal and CBI instead of complete control by Lokpal)

•  Lokpal will conduct preliminary investigation into a corruption complaint and refer it to CBI for investigation.
• CBI would investigate the same and then forward the case to the directorate of public prosecution to be created under the supervision of Lokpal. 
• Any suggestion by the Lokpal for prosecution should be accepted. A rejection, if any, should come either from the secretary of the department(lokpal) concerned or a higher authority.
• The committee outlined a structure that harmonises or coordinates the roles of the Central Bureau of Investigation, Central Vigilance Commission and Lokpal.

While some members of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Personnel, Public Grievances and Law and Justice felt that the Prime Minister should be brought under the Lokpal, others were of the view that this should be avoided.The Parliamentary panel on Lokpal bill, is divided on the inclusion of prime minister under the ambit of the anti-corruption watchdog.

The committee got at least four suggestions on the matter of the PM's inclusion.

• There were demands for completely excluding the PM and his office, particularly from Congress members. Team Anna had told the panel it was for complete inclusion of the PM and PMO.
•  Certain members said the PM's post could be brought under the Lokpal's ambit after the completion of his/her tenure.
• Another argument was that since the PM was in charge of departments such as personnel, public grievances & pensions, planning, atomic energy and space, all these will be out of the Lokpal's purview if the PM was excluded. They argued that only the departments that deal with national security can be excluded. Sources said all suggestions would find a place in the report.

Source:http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/NewDelhi/Lokpal-to-get-part-control-of-CBI/Article1-769721.aspx

http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2011-11-16/news/30405853_1_civil-society-activists-lokpal-team-anna